Swing



T. J. BELL.

(No Model.)

SWING.

No. 363,503. Patented May 24, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE.

THOMAS J. BELL, OF- HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

swine.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,503, Fluted .May 24, 1887.

Application filed July 29, 1886. Serial No. 209,471. (No model.)

V zen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Childs Combined Swing and Couch, and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to combined swings and couches for children, and has for its object the provision of a device of this character which will be cheap and durable in its construction, and will be capable of equally as varied and reliable adjustments as a more expensive and intricate one.

My newly-invented swing and couch consists of two parts, frames or boards, preferably of about equal size hinged together, so they can fold flatly upon each other and be capable of assuming any desired relative angle to each other for making a straight or reclining back, or even a completely horizontal surface. These various positions are attained and maintained by means of a slotted arm, which is pivoted to the back, and works over a guide either directly upon the seat or, preferably, upon an arm secured to the seat. A thumb-nut works upon the guide or screw and serves tov clamp the arm at any point, and will reliably hold it atthat point until released. This renders the back readily adjustable even when the swing is occupied, and when a child' falls to sleep when swinging, the back can be lowered until a couch is provided without disturbing or arousing the child. One such arm is provided on each side of the swing, and for the purpose of making these arm's serve as protectors or projections to hold the child in the couch they are made bowed or curved, as will be presently more fully described. As above stated, I preferably make the adjustable connection between these slotted arms and the swingseat through the medium of side arms secured upon the seat, which side arms bear the guides or screws upon which the thumb -nuts work. These side arms are preferably formed of straight pieces joined to the seat by some flexible loose connection-such as chains or ropes or cords. The suspending-ropes are attached to these arms at front and rear, and when desired these suspending-ropes may extend on 'down and form the connection between the side arms and the seat, thereby dispensing with separate chains or connections at this point.

I preferably cover the seat, back, and side vet carpet or other strong and durable goods and the seat and back coveris preferably made of one single continuous piece, which gives strength to the connection between said parts and takes a great deal of strain from the hinges which unite them; or, indeed, it may be made to take the place of the hinges altogether. The cover may, however, be dispensed with and the seat and back formed of solid pieces of board or other material.

As thus far described, the utility and advan tages of my device have been confined to its use as a swing or couch. The same construction which rendersit so simple and effective when in use also makes it capable. of being folded into a very small compass for packing and shipping. As above stated, the seat and backlie flatly and squarely upon each other. Then if the slotted arms be removed from the guides, they'will lie alongside of the folded seat and back, and the side arms, owing to this flexible connection to the seat, can either be thrown upon the top or laid alongside of the folded device, as may be most convenient, and the suspendingropes wrapped around it, if desired, to hold the whole together. It will be seen thatcompara tively little space is occupied by the folded swing.

The following detailed description will more fullyenable others to understand my improved swing and couch.

The accompanying drawings illustrate what I consider the best means for carrying my invention into practice.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device opened for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same closed for laying aside or shipment.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur.

A represents the seat of the device, made arms with some suitable material-such as veleither as an open frame or as a solid piece; and B represents the back similarly made. These parts are preferably covered with some strong fabric-such as Brussels or velvet carpet, or leather, or oil-cloth, or, indeed, any strong material, whether textile or otherwise. The cover preferably is a single continuous piece for both parts, as this gives it strength and adds strength to the device, relieving the connecting means Very materially of strain, and, if desired, may take the place of hinges at this point.

Hinges a a are preferably employed to unite the parts A and B. These hinges are of such character as to permit the seat and back to be folded together, as shown in Fig. 2.

Orepresents slotted arms, which are pivoted to the back and extend forwardly and embrace screws or guides e e on some portion of the seat. Thumb-nutsd work over the screws eand serve to unite the arms 0 to the seat, and hold the seat and back at any relative angle, thus enabling me to make a chair swing or a reclining couch or bed by simply loosening the nuts and permitting the back to be moved. When the proper inclination is reached, the thumbnuts are again screwed up and the parts will be held securely in that position. To render the arms 0 serviceable as protectors or guards to the couch or swing, I make them bowed, as shown, when they will project upward and form sides, as shown in Fig. 1; but they can be made straight, if preferred.

I preferably place the screw or guide 0 upon the side arms, D, of the seat A. These side arms are about the same length as the seat, and are .united thereto by means of flexible connec tions dsuch as chains or cords. When thus loosely and flexibly connected, the arms are capable of being folded over, as shown in Fig. 2. They will be held rigidly by the suspending-ropes D when in use, as well as by their rigid but movable connection to the slotted arms 0. The ropes D are secured, preferably,by passing through and being knotted under the side arms, D, front and back, as shown. When desired, these ropes may extend through said arms, and after being fastened thereto lead on down to the seat, thus dispensing with the supplemental connections d d.

The operation when in use has already been described in the opening paragraph of this specification, and, also, the facility which my device possesses for being folded for packing or shipment'has also been set out.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1s 1. In a combined swing and couch, the combination, with the seat having the side arms, as described, secured thereto by flexible connections, and provided with the screw and thumb nut, as described, of the back hinged to the seat, and the slotted arms pivoted to the back and working over the screw, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described swing and couch, consisting of the hinged seat and back having a flexible cover, as described, slotted arms pivoted to one part, side arms flexibly or loosely connected to the other part, and means, substantially as described, for connecting and adjusting the slotted arms and the suspending ropes secured to the side arms, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in. presence of two witnesses.

- THOS. J. BELL.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH ,PYNE, BENJ. PYNE. 

